Rio Arriba County
was created 9 January 1852. It was named for the Spanish name for
"upper river" of the Rio Grande River. This is area is part of the
partidos of early Spanish rule. The county seat is Tierra Amarilla,
and it's the center of outdoor recreation and tourism. The county
contains the Jicarilla Apache and the Rio Arriba reservations and
the San Juan and Santa Clara Pueblos. Three fresh rivers provide
abundant water for agriculture and ranching.